windows 8 tips

This is a series of stories that explains the rationale behind the weird changes and features in Windows 8 — and then provides you with tips and tricks to restore the missing functionality, or to make Windows 8 a little less clunky.

One of Windows’ greatest strengths is its compatibility with millions of peripherals. Due to its complete dominion of the PC market, manufacturers must ensure that their devices work with Windows — and for the most part, they do. The one exception to this rule is the period immediately following the release of a new version of Windows, and Windows 8 and RT are certainly no exception to the rule.

It may seem awkward that the first thing you’ll want to do with Windows 8 is make it more like Windows 7, but for many of us who rely on our desktops, that’s exactly the case. In this article I’ll give you a head start on creating a usable Windows 8 desktop for yourself.

On September 13, I will have been using Windows 8 as my main operating system for exactly one year. For the most part, it feels like I’ve just been using an updated version of Windows 7 — an updated version of Windows 7 that does away with the Start menu and introduces the abominably godawful mouse-hating Metro Start screen.